San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-07
THE coLoREp PROBLEM.

flhlt lAlT vi NbhlrAhlN atN ihaNN's
gress with the WORK in hand. They have
opened permanent headquarters Mt the
Planters Hotel. New Orleans, and are
working with energies intelllgently d.
rected to succeed. The reports from all
parts OF the state are encouraging and
liberal profIers OF assistance come from
every quarter. The enterprise receives
official recognition at the hands OF the
governor Of the state ana there Is no
friction.
The legislature OF the state OF Texas
has considered the needs Of the colored
orphans Of the state and provisions were
made at the session just closed for an
Orphanage. under such conditions, 1t Is
hoped, as will insure its success and az
ford the needed relief TO the mOtherless
and destitute colored children Of Texas.
The medical association OF Bexar
county recently met and among other
thing denied the privileges of member
ship to Colored physician, whose pro-
fessIonal standing is fully up to the av-
erage of the members Of that assocla-
ton.
The two military companies OF this
city, who had entered their names as
competitors in the great national drill
to occur next month in Washington,
have very serious doubts Of making
good their entry, because col
ored companies are admitted as COM
petitOrs, on equal terms, in that drill.
These occurrences, and others OF
like character, emphasize the truth that
| the status Of the UOlOred man and citi-
zen is by no means settled after twenty
five years of Acknowledgement. Ii also
| Is apparent that there are diversities OF
| opinion among southern statesmen, gen.
| tlemen. military officers and philanthro-
| pists on this much mixed and variously
shaded question. The case is not dlf-
| ficult one. however, to adjust, when left
| to naturally make its own adjustment,
and this il must do in every special, par
| ticular case rs 1t shall arise. Two
thlngs are settled. The political equal
| ity of the two races, and their social in-
equality. The amendments 10 the con-
| sttution have settled The first; the fiat
| of nature has settled the last. The An
| glo. African must be conceded the ex-
| eroise Of every function of his citizen
ship, beyond this, nothing is demanded
| by him under the constitution, or II de-
manded, cannot be conceded. His prep
aration for his lifewOrk, as man, must
be conceded him, and it is manifestly
unjust to deprive him OF the advantages
| OF education necessary to his full equip
ment for such work, whether as teacher,
soldier or physiCiar. II his exclusion
from the meetings of his profession mil
itate against his proper preparation for
mis- work, he should not be excluded. IL
is just as necessary that the colored
| physician should be posted, as
it is that his white competitor
should, and If the meeting of the med
| zeal associations assist him in posting
| for his battle with disease, II is an in
jury to him and his patients to exclude
| him. The question Of social exchanges
is not involved in that act and II is fool
ishness to introduce it. just SO with re-
| gard to this National drill. The cOlOred
citizen is just as much liable TO military
| duty as the white citizen. His military
education is as necessary. If this com-
petitive drill is a benefit to the white
soldier, it will also be benefit to the
cOlOred soldier, and it is not just to de-
prive him OF its benefits. There is no
hint of social distinction or equality in
such drill; it is folly TO urge that Objec-
ton. The young men who were nursed
on negro mammy's laps and Graded in
their arms and fed and dressed by them,
who in their childhood sports were the
playmates of piccaninies, need have no
fear of negro equality on the camp
| ground Of the nation, when called to-
gether for military drill. The twenty
five years of negro freedom have done
great things for that dOwn-trodden and
cOlUr-despised race. 1t has not brought
the day of social equality one hour
nearer and IL is rank folly to start at its
ghost now. If the rifle companies Of
this city are wise they will lay that
ghost, perfect their drill, go to Washing
ton as intended, and capture the hOnors
il they can. If any attempt is there
made to force them into social relations
with colored troops it will be time
enough then to enter their protest and
return home.
NO lime For CHARITY